Anodontia of the third molar and other dental anomalies in Jamaica: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

Dental panoramic tomographs of a total of 478 individuals were viewed, and the incidence of developmentally absent third permanent molars found to be 4.71 percent. More than half of these individuals (51.61 percent) lacked all four third molars, Marginal differences in sex distribution were found; males had 6.67 percent whereas females experienced 6.36 absence. The incidence of missing teeth other than third molars was found to be 6.49 percent with missing lateral incisors (39.66 percent) and second premolars (37.93 percent) making up the majority. The incidence of impacted third molars was 15.90 percent among the study sample, mesiongular impactions accounting for 70.20 percent of the total. Only 19 cases (3.98 percent) form the total experienced other impacted teeth, only one case having associated impaction of third molars. Supernumerary teeth were found present in 15 patients out of the total (3.14 percent) and appeared equally distributed between males and females. Seven cases of fourth molars were found, two of which included all four fourth molars, and one associated with a "fifth molar" and four supernumerary premolars (see case history). Two other cases were found with supernumerary premolars. Peg-shaped upper lateral incisors were found in prevalence 1.68 percent, 40.0 percent.(AU)